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Friday, December 9, 2016

This Saturday, December 10th head to Marble Bar to check out Siamese when they play with Palaces, Arc Pelt and Wuxxxia. This show features 4 amazing Detroit acts for the low price of $5. This will also be a special show for Siamese as it will be bassist Joe Sausser's last time playing with the band. So, if the lineup was already enough to get you out to this show, make sure you make it out to see Siamese's current lineup one last time!

Thanks to Party Store Productions we are also getting a couple of people into this show for free. If you would like to enter to win a pair of tickets, please send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #Siamese in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner the morning of the show and will send them details on how to claim their prize.

This is going to be a great show that you won't want to miss! Cover for Saturday's show is only $5, but lucky for you, we are also getting a lucky couple of people into this show for free! If you would like to enter to win a pair of tickets to this show, send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #Rah in the subject line. We will draw 2 lucky winners on Saturday morning and they will each get to attend this show with a friend for free.

Doors are set to open at 9 p.m. on Saturday. For more info on this show, click here.

You can also bring the kids to Bagley + Trumbull at 5 p.m. to roast marshmallows, drink cocoa and meet Santa himself! Then, at 6 p.m. there will be a tree lighting ceremony at the same intersection. Many of the local bars and eateries will be featuring specials during the event. The Detroit Police department will also be collecting toys and socks for families in need. You can drop off these items at any of the Corktown-a-Glow participating locations listed above.

Let's be honest. Who doesn't love Weezer? "Buddy Holly", "Undone" (The Sweater Song), "Say It Ain't So", the list goes on and on! Their career has spanned over two decades, staying true to their original fans while still staying relevant enough to attract new ones.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the release of one of their most popular albums, Pinkerton. Hailed one of the top 100 albums of the '90s by Rolling Stone, this release featured songs like "Tired of Sex" and "Pink Triangle". It may not have gotten as much radio time as songs from the Blue Album, but it is definitely a favorite among fans.

Friday night at New Way bar some of your favorite Detroit area acts will be gathering together to pay tribute to this great album. The bands will play sets throughout the night consisting of only Weezer songs. The lineup for the evening includes Bueno No Bueno, Mental Health Day, Power Broker, AVIVA, Irreverent Smile and Stacey Macleod (of Dear Darkness) with Helen Lambrix (of The Briscoe County Vultures). Rock N Rummage will also be on site slinging their awesome goods. So you can pick up something sweet for yourself or maybe even grab a Christmas gift or two while you're at the show! Admission to this awesome show is only $5, with proceeds going towards local suicide prevention groups. So not only is this a great show, but it's for a great cause too!

So head to New Way this Friday night to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this great album! Doors are set to open at 9 p.m. and the party goes until 2.

This FridayBlack Iris Booking is bringing one of the most bad ass lineups of the year to town! Red Fang will be hitting the stage at El Club along with Torche and Whores. The three bands have been selling out shows and packing venues across the US for a few weeks now, right after Red Fang returned from a European tour. Red Fang released their latest full length Only Ghosts back in October on Relapse Records. Check out the music video for their song "Shadows" off the new album.

We were lucky enough to have a chance to chat with Red Fang's super awesome drummer John Sherman a couple weeks ago. Here's what he had to say about the new album, touring, and Friday night's show!

HID- So, how was Europe?John Sherman- "Europe was amazing!"

HID- Is it different playing shows in Europe compared to the US?JS- "Well the scenery is much nicer. There are less gross strip malls and fast food joints lining the highways and way more castles and old school windmills and the like. But the shows aren't so different. Sometimes it seems Europeans have a greater passion for live music and a greater appreciation for the arts in general compared to Americans. But then we play a show like we did the other night at Slim's in SF where the whole crowd was going bananas from the first note of Whores. set until the last note of ours and I see just as passion in my American brothers and sisters. So I guess it's really not so different."

HID- You guys just released your latest album "Only Ghosts" and by now most of your fans have probably picked it up or at least given it a listen. Do you have a favorite song(s) on the album?JS- "It changes all the time, but my favorite song to play live right now is "No Air". It's kind of a weird one because the timing is a little tricky, and that's always fun. I think my favorite one to listen to at the moment is "I am a Ghost" because it's so different from anything we've ever done. And it has a weird little section where the kick drum drops out and it's super satisfying when it returns."

HID- You recorded this with Ross Robinson, he has recorded some pretty epic bands and now Red Fang can be added to that list. How was it working with Ross?JS- "Ross is amazing. We just stayed with him at his house last night actually, after our show in LA. We recorded in his home studio and lived there the whole time, so there was no escape. No going home and sleeping in your own bed at the end of the day. We were fully immersed in this record and it was awesome. Ross has a way of getting you to open up completely and be totally honest about the music. It's hard to explain, but basically there was zero bullshit going on. Only Ghosts is the most honest recording I've ever been a part of. Ross is also kind of like a musical wizard. His ears have magical eyes that see things other people can't see."

HID- How long did you work on this album? Both recording it and writing it?JS- "We wrote whenever we could between tours over a year or so and really focused for the 3 months before we went to Ross'. Then we spent a month in the studio re-writing and recording. And then Joe Barresi spent a couple weeks mixing it."

HID- Now you're ready to head out on tour with Whores and Torche. What are you looking forward to the most about this tour?JS- "This is a dream bill for us. We've toured with Whores before and love them as a band and as people, and we just spent a month in Europe sharing a bus with Torche and feel the same about them, so this tour is gonna be epic. The thought of seeing both Torche and Whores every night puts a big smile across my face."

HID- You guys seem like pretty fun dudes. What's your favorite part about touring?JS- "My favorite part of touring is running into all the great friends we've made over the years. And eating regional delicacies like burritos in SF and BBQ in NC. And pizza wherever I can find it. And pho. Lots of pho."

HID- Tell us about this coloring contest. Where did you come up with the idea? Do you find coloring to be a good way to relieve stress, like all of these infomercials claim?JS- "I'm not sure where that idea came from, but I like it! Our pal Tim Root drew the page and I think it looks amazing. We figured it could be a fun, creative way to get fans involved and get people talking about the record and the tour. I think coloring can be a relaxing activity, for sure! Unless you obsess over staying in the lines and freak out about every little "mistake." Then you're screwed."

HID- Ok, so back to the tour. Are there any cities that you're especially looking forward to on this tour?JS- "Well, Detroit, of course, duh! We always have a blast in Detroit and don't get to play there as often as we'd like. I'm sure this show will be a rager."

HID- You guys are on the road a lot. How do you survive life on the road?JS- "Try to eat healthy when you can, because all those regional delicacies add up and slow you down! We read lots of books and play lots of Words With Friends to pass the time on long drives. We try to get out and walk around exploring cities when we can, although sometimes there no time and all we see is the inside of a rock club and then we're off to the next town."

HID- Anything else you would like our readers to know?JS- "Don't be afraid to let your hair down and have a good time. Let's party on December 9th!"

Tickets to see Red Fang at El Club are $22 in advance and can be purchased here. Thanks to Black Iris Booking we are also giving away a pair of tickets to this show! If you would like to enter to win those tickets, send your name over to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #RedFang in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner on Friday morning and they will get to attend the show with a friend for free.

Doors are set to open early, at 5 p.m. on Friday, with the show starting at 8. As always, all ages are welcome at El CLub.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Five years ago a couple of girls decided they were sick of only hearing negative things about Detroit. There were so many awesome things going on, bands to hear, and places to check out, it was time that someone started talking about it. So, we decided to start talking about it and Hip In Detroit was born.

Over the past five years we have had the pleasure of working with some of the best bands and businesses in the area. We've met some amazing people and some of our best friends. We've featured tons of restaurants that have opened up throughout the city and the Metro Detroit area. We've shot videos of a ton of bands. We've interviewed some of our favorite national acts. We've given away a ton of tickets to shows. We've fallen in love with this city and its scene over and over again. We've watched it change and grow so much over the past five years. We went from searching for things to talk about, to trying to keep up with everything going on in this city!

We are absolutely thrilled that we have been able to cover this city and all of the great things in it for the past five years, and we're even more thrilled that so many of you take the time to read what we have to say about it! To celebrate this milestone we are throwing a huge party and we want you to join us! Every year we have thrown an anniversary party and invited out some bands that stood out to us over the past year. Well, this time around, since it's our biggest anniversary yet, we decided to not only invite out some of our new favorites, but invited a couple of our all time favorite Detroit acts too. We also have once again teamed up with some of the best companies and people in town to come up with some amazing raffle prizes that we will be giving away to attendees throughout the night. There's no need to buy raffle tickets or spend a bunch of money. With admission, you will get a raffle ticket, and you are entered in the giveaways!

So, put it in your calendar now, then make your way to El Club on January 6th! $8 will get you in the door and in the raffle and the party starts at 8 p.m. As always, all ages are welcome at El Club. Make sure you also RSVP to the Facebook event page here so you can get a sneak peak of the prize packs before the party and to find out who rounds out the lineup the week of the show!

We can't thank all of you enough for all of your support over the years! Whether you have worked with us or have headed over to hipindetroit.com a time or two, it seriously means the world to us. We can't wait to party with all of you and celebrate this big anniversary!

Lizzo will be performing alongside DJ Sofia Eris and Dizzy Fae at El Club. Tickets to get into the show are $15 in advance and $17 at the door on the day of the show. If you are not familiar with Lizzo, check out her latest music video for the song Good As Hell. If you like what you hear you can email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #lizzo to be entered to win a pair of tickets to the show. We will be drawing a winner the morning of the event and that winner will get to attend the show for free with a friend.

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Did you know that there are currently around 62,000 small businesses in Detroit and 47,000 of those business are minority owned? In fact, Detroit ranks fourth in the country for minority owned businesses. But, most of those business will not make it to five years for various reason. So, a group of local Detroiters came together to start a group called the Soulcial Scene, to help support black owned restaurants in the City of Detroit.

The group plans to buy a few buses that would help transport people to black owned restaurants during their lunch breaks. By helping support the businesses that are owned by minorities in the area, they hope to help employ more minorities. The fact of the matter is that minority owners are more likely to employee minorities, so by supporting black owned businesses they will hopefully also be helping put more minorities to work! Soulcial Scene is currently running a fundraiser to purchase their first buses. They are also holding a fundraiser at Dime Store on the 14th to help raise funds. You can check out their Go Fund Me to learn more and to donate or you can buy tickets to the December 14th event to help support the cause. It's time to put your money where your mouth is!